The iPhone SE series has been successful since its debut introduction in 2016. It’s no surprise, given that it provides the core Apple smartphone experience at a lower cost. Apple’s most recent iPhone SE debuted in 2022. While the iPhone 8-style design is impressive in many aspects, it differs significantly from the latest iPhone 15 smartphones.
Will Apple finally update the design of the cheapest iPhone? Here’s all we know about the fourth-generation iPhone SE.
When will the iPhone SE 4 be released?
One of the major questions about the iPhone SE 4 is if it will appear at all.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an Apple analyst, announced in January 2023 that plans for the iPhone SE in 2024 had been canceled, only to announce in February 2023 that the project had been revived. Then, in April 2023, Kuo claimed that the model he was referring to could be an engineering prototype and that “there are no plans for mass production and sales”.
However, a September 2023 rumor from MacRumors suggests that Apple is developing a new iPhone SE. There was no release date mentioned, although analyst Jeff Pu (via MacRumors) suggested a launch around 2025.
Korean website. The Elec also predicts that the next iPhone SE won’t be released until 2025. Its explanation is that Apple is relying solely on a business called BOE to supply screens for the iPhone SE 4, and this panel maker is experiencing “performance issues”.
According to leaker Revegnus, an Apple product roadmap obtained from Samsung Securities (a subsidiary of the main firm) indicates that the iPhone SE 4 will be delivered next year.
While it makes plausible that the iPhone SE will emerge at that time, an isolated leak like this is insufficient to confirm some of the other goods named.
For context, here’s when the previous iPhone SE models have launched:
- iPhone SE (2016) – March 2016
- iPhone SE 2 (2020) – April 2020
- iPhone SE 3 (2022) – March 2022
So, waiting three years between models, as is now likely to be the case, wouldn’t come as a huge surprise.
How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost?
At this point, no pricing details have been provided. However, the iPhone SE remains a reasonably priced mid-range phone, and this is unlikely to change in the fourth generation.
Here’s what the prior models cost at launch:
- iPhone SE (2016) – $399/£359
- iPhone SE 2 (2020) – $399/£419
- iPhone SE 3 (2022) – $429/£419
However, if the projected design update occurs, the iPhone SE 4’s price may jump. Apple will want to avoid pricing it too close to the iPhone 15’s starting price of $799/£799, however.
What specs and features will the iPhone SE 4 have?
If Apple does release the iPhone SE 4, it is expected to be a big update, based on rumors and leaks.
Design
According to MacRumors and X leaker Unknownz21, the iPhone SE 4 will be a significantly modified version of the iPhone 14, featuring a 6.1-inch full-screen display.
Apple is likely to remove the Touch ID Home button from the iPhone SE 4, replacing it with a notch. Given the SE’s estimated pricing, it’s unclear whether the Face ID and TrueDepth camera systems will be as advanced as those seen on top iPhones.
Unknownz21 also reports that the iPhone SE 4 will feature an Action Button in place of the phone’s mute switch on the side. However, given that this functionality is now confined to the iPhone 15 Pro versions, a conventional mute switch is more likely right now – though this may change by the time Apple is ready to release it.
It’d be surprising not to see a USB-C connector on the iPhone SE 4, given that it’s required by the EU and on all iPhone 15 models. On X (previously Twitter), inventor Shea has made renders of what the phone could look like:
Renders of the iPhone SE 4 from 91Mobiles bear a strong resemblance to the iPhone 14.
With no area for a home button, we’re practically certain to receive Face ID. The module appears to be the same size as the iPhone 14 version, so anticipate face unlock to be just as quick and secure.
It will rely partially on the front-facing camera, with only one remaining on the rear. The USB-C connector appears to be present, although it is unclear whether the Action Button will be included.
Majin Bu, a leaker, initially expected Apple to be more ambitious, speculating that the iPhone SE 4 would have a design similar to the future iPhone 16, with a Dynamic Island and vertical rear camera module.
However, recent leaked photographs show an iPhone SE case without the standard home button and Touch ID sensor, instead incorporating a notch at the top of the display. Despite early predictions that it will follow the design of the iPhone 16, Majin Bu now expects it to resemble the iPhone 14, with a display notch rather than a Dynamic Island.
According to a Weibo user dubbed Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone SE 4’s rear side will be indistinguishable from the ordinary iPhone 16.
The freshly released promotional material on Weibo (via GizmoChina), while unconfirmed, also suggests a substantial design redesign for the iPhone SE 4, with a larger 6.1-inch display similar to the iPhone 14, as well as a notch for Face ID.
While the front design appears to be similar to the iPhone 14, the leak does not reveal much about the phone’s back, other that it may maintain the single rear camera system seen on prior SE models.
Display
The iPhone SE is the last model with an LCD display, however it is expected to move to OLED technology.
In March 2023, the Korean website The Elec stated that the iPhone SE 4’s display would be comparable to the conventional iPhone 14 model, which employs OLED. In February 2024, The Elec claimed it again.
Ice Universe, a prominent Chinese leaker, now claims that the phone will feature an OLED screen for the first time in Apple’s cheap lineup.
However, it is unclear if the resolution will be upgraded from 1334×750 on the 2022 model.
Performance
If the phone gets a significant upgrade based on the iPhone 14, it’s reasonable to expect Apple’s A16 Bionic chip.
The iPhone SE has the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13 and 14 versions. It’s possible that the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will use a previous-generation processor. That is why we expect it to include the A16 Bionic.
However, according to a fresh leak on Weibo (via GizmoChina), the next iPhone SE may use the A18 Bionic CPU, which is expected to power the iPhone 16 series, implying that the phone will offer high-end performance at a mid-range price.
Cameras
The latest iPhone SE has a single 12MP camera on the rear.
The forthcoming iPhone SE 4 could include a single-lens camera to reduce costs.
However, there’s talk that it may contain the 48Mp primary lens utilized in the iPhone 15 (seen below). That’s according to MacRumors, which makes sense.
Battery & charging
Assuming the iPhone SE 4 has a larger overall footprint than its predecessors, a larger battery is also possible.
According to a source close to MacRumors, the iPhone SE 4 would purportedly reuse the iPhone 14’s battery. If genuine, this 3279mAh cell would represent a 60% increase over the 2022 model.
Even with a low 2,018 mAh capacity, the updated iPhone SE battery provides two hours more of video playback than the SE 2. The battery life was better than you may think for a tiny phone.
Given that the iPhone 14 has excellent battery life for its small, this is likely to be a prominent feature of the forthcoming iPhone SE.
The current model’s 20W charging is a little disappointing, but there’s no evidence of significant upgrades at this point.
Software
Because the iPhone SE 4 is not expected until 2025, it is unlikely that it would come pre-installed with iOS 17. Instead, Apple is likely to reveal a successor with iOS 18 before then, which will operate on the next iPhone SE.
It is also likely to incorporate Apple’s Intelligence capabilities, which are now exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and The Verge, this might make the SE a far more appealing alternative for low-cost shoppers.
Connectivity
Ming-Chi Kuo revealed in April 2023 that Apple was testing its in-house 5G baseband processor with the iPhone SE 4 prototype. A MacRumors report confirms this.
The current iPhone SE includes 5G technology, however the next version is expected to support additional bands.
There is also no need for Apple to improve on the present Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 standards, even if they are not the most recent available.
That’s all we presently know about the much-anticipated iPhone SE 4. We’ll update this post as soon as we discover anything new.
